Pagan pentacle accepted by U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
{{date|April 26, 2007}}

[[Image:Pentacle 2.svg|thumb|200px|right|The [[Wikipedia:pentagram|pentagram]] within a circle, a symbol of faith used by many Wiccans, sometimes called a pentacle.]]

The [[Wikipedia:Wicca|Wiccan]] pentacle was added to the list of 38 emblems allowed on [[United States]] government-issued headstones for soldiers, according to a settlement announced Monday April 23. 

The settlement was in response to a lawsuit brought on behalf of nine families by the advocacy groups [[w:ACLU|ACLU]] and [[w:Americans United for Separation of Church and State|Americans United for Separation of Church and State]] (AUSCS). One of these was the family of Sgt. Patrick Stewart, 34, who was killed in Afghanistan, who was posthumously awarded the [[w:Bronze Star|Bronze Star]] and [[w:Purple Heart|Purple Heart]]. His wife Roberta Stewart said in the year prior to the settlement "This is discrimination against our religion".

The Rev. Barry W. Lynn of the AUSCS said: "This settlement has forced the Bush Administration into acknowledging that there are no second class religions in America, including among our nation's veterans."

Wicca is a nature-based religion. Many Wiccans, though not all, include themselves in [[w:Neopagans|Paganism]] or Neopaganism. There are an estimated one million Neopagans in the world today.

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/04/24/military/1_08_514_23_07.txt 
|title=VA allows Wiccans to place symbols on grave markers in national cemeteries 
|author=Scott Bauer 
|pub=Associated Press 
|date=April 23, 2007}} 
*{{source|url=http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/%5Cnews.aspx?id=16939 
|title=Nev. politicians join soldier's widow in fight for Wiccan headstone 
|author= 
|pub=The Associated Press 
|date=May 26, 2006}}

==External links==
*[http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm/hmemb.asp Available Emblems of Belief for Placement on Government Headstones and Markers]
*[http://www.adherents.com Adherents.com] 
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[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Religion]]
pentagram within a circle, a symbol of faith used by many Wiccans, sometimes called a pentacle.

The Wiccan pentacle was added to the list of 38 emblems allowed on United States government-issued headstones for soldiers, according to a settlement announced Monday April 23. 

The settlement was in response to a lawsuit brought on behalf of nine families by the advocacy groups ACLU and Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AUSCS). One of these was the family of Sgt. Patrick Stewart, 34, who was killed in Afghanistan, who was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. His wife Roberta Stewart said in the year prior to the settlement "This is discrimination against our religion".

The Rev. Barry W. Lynn of the AUSCS said: "This settlement has forced the Bush Administration into acknowledging that there are no second class religions in America, including among our nation's veterans."

Wicca is a nature-based religion. Many Wiccans, though not all, include themselves in Paganism or Neopaganism. There are an estimated one million Neopagans in the world today.
North America United States Religion